The Pellet – Boston, year 1872

The author shares some brief quotes from an early (1872) homeopathy journal.

I believe that time has been the best judge to demonstrate the healing capabilities of homeopathy. One would be amazed simply by reviewing the history of hospitals and their annual reports in the 1800’s, or by reading archived medical journals that had published articles about homeopathy.

One of the historic publications from Boston in 1872 was called The Pellet, with a slogan that read: To Be Taken Every Day.

The Pellet was a newsletter, about 170 pages, which was published in ten issues for the Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital Fair. I wish to share two small pieces from its first issue, published on Tuesday, April 16 of 1872.

In a section of the Pellet, the following telegraphic correspondence explains an event in New York:

The New York Homoeopathic Fair:

The Homoeopathic Fair which is now open in New York was undertaken for the purpose of raising funds to add a surgical department to the N. Y. Ophthalmic Hospital, an institution of many years’ standing, which has lately come under homoeopathic management. Under the new regime, the hospital has received the most substantial encouragement, and has been enabled to erect a very large and beautiful building. Mrs. Henry Keep recently presented the hospital with $100,000.

Boston, April 13, 1872.

Mr. Alfred Mackay, Chairman of the Executive Committee, The Massachusetts Homoeopathic Hospital Fair, sends greetings to the New York Homoeopathic Fair.

May the success of both be commensurate with the noble charities they foster.

Colocynthis Henry S. Russell,

Chairman of Executive Committee, The New York Homoeopathic Surgical Hospital Association, cordially reciprocates the brotherly greeting of the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Hospital Fair. May the success of both enterprises inaugurate a new era in the brilliant history of the better method of cure.

In another column, there is an article by L. Maria Child about Similia similibus curantur:

“In the Middle Ages, the monks had this proverb: “If the Devil gets into a house, he must be driven out through the same door by which he entered.”Undoubtedly the monks knew a great deal about the Devil; for the chronicles of those times abound with stories of his pestilent doings, and of the miraculous power the monks had of making him run for his life, as soon as he became aware that they were after him. Their familiarity with him is also indicated by the pictures of him, which they have handed down to us, representing him with horns, and cloven feet, and a caudal appendage, suggestive of Darwinian origin. The adage I have quoted implies that when he got possession of any premises, they expelled him on the principle of “Similia similibus curantur”, but it is a great pity they did not inform us of the details in their process of driving him out, for it now seems to be a lost art. “

“Jack Frost is an imp as mischievous and playful as Puck, and at times he is terribly malignant. When he is in a frolic, he throws beautiful white wreaths over trees and bushes, and powders them with diamonds. He spends whole nights in ornamenting windows with fern leaves, flowers, stars, and other ice-embroidery. He is a bad tempered fellow, though, and bites hard when he is in an angry mood. But there is one thing to be said in his favor. If applied to, he will himself cure the bites he gives, and he does it on the principle of “Similia Similibus curantur.” If he makes your feet ache cruelly by filling them full of frost, he will draw it all out again, if you plunge them in ice-cold water, or cover them with snow.”

“The Fire King is another powerful imp. When kept within proper bounds he does beautiful things. In the coldest days of January, his breath will make a house as warm as the genial temperature of June. He makes ugly, black minerals glow like rubies, and when he passes his tongue over wood, he converts it into brilliant, waving plumes of red, yellow, and blue. But he is an awful demon if he is allowed to run at large. He bites, and his bite is malignant and tormenting. But if he is applied to in season, he also will cure the pain he causes, and he does it on the principle of “Similia similibus curantur.”

“The tea-kettle lid rose by steam, ages before men took the hint and made steam-power available to move ships and carriages. So for centuries, the Devil, and Jack

Frost, and the Fire King, were cast out through the same way by which they entered, before the illustrious Dr. Hahnemann discovered that “Similia similibus curantur” was the platform of medical science.

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Such publications reveal the history of our profession, homeopathy – a medical science, which we should be proud of.

About the author

Iman Navab

Iman Navab is a certified classical Homeopath and doctor of alternative medicine from Canada. He is the President of the Applied Research in Homeopathy Foundation of Canada (www.ARHFC.ca). He is the author of 'Miasma of Cancer', and is a historian of Homeopathy. Iman teaches History and Philosophy of Homeopathy at the Canadian College of Holistic Health. Navab gives lectures and seminars to raise awareness about the rich history of Homeopathy.